Why everyone should root for Michigan

We should post this on the Board at RCMB and 11 Warriors - maybe we can help change their collective hearts and minds about the University of Michigan and our football program.

/s (dripping with it)

I remember during the 2009 final four in Detroit, national media types had the same reaction to state’s surprise championship game run in the wake of the recession/bankrupties, acting like the team was bringing a joy to all downtrodden Michiganders everywhere, as if half the state wasn’t actively praying on Tom Izzo’s downfall lmao

Well, I'm a bit biased as a native, but I'd say Michigan is a more likable state than Georgia, Ohio, or Texas.

As your avatar would say - "Well, the world needs ditch diggers too!"

just open in safari and enable Reader View

You can also block javascript and read it.

Google the title and read it elsewhere 

I read it as Walter Matthau and just see a grumpy old man sports writer who is odd coupled up with a Michigan article. 

It’s a good read and an interesting back story.   The author grew up in rural Michigan and lives back their now with his family.  Calls himself a Walmart Wolverine, a huge Michigan fan. He probably reads this blog. Made good growing up as the son of a long line of auto factory workers (it seems), has done well as a writer, and returned to his roots. 

You meant to say school when you inserted MSU the last time. There, fixed it for you.

Sparty SOP is to either ignore that fact or pretend the non-alum Michigan fans are somehow worse, usually through some really nasty, elitist comment about their imagined socioeconomic status (while they themselves whine incessantly about the "elitist" snobbery actual Michigan alums allegedly display toward them). Or the favorite chestnut, that at some point in their life they had their MSU education belittled by a Michigan fan who didn't attend college, which as someone who grew up the son of a Michigan alum who has always hung out on gameday with at least some non-alum fans, and who myself attended both schools, in my 41 years I've observed happening about 2-3 times. But it's apparently traumatizing for MSU grads to undergo even once and thus justifies being the whiniest and most petulant, delusional fanbase on the planet.

They, and to a lesser extent OSU fans, are of course under the delusion that the rest of America hates Michigan as much as they do and everyone is rooting against Michigan to win. I haven't scientifically surveyed but I'd actually be willing to bet most fans outside the South are rooting for Michigan to be the first non-SEC / Clemson National Champion since 2014. And let's be real, 2014 was Ohio State, which only just barely clears the bar for "not Southern," so really since USC in 2004 lol.

That is exactly why they have an empty stadium when times are tough. Dear Mr. Coach Harbaugh, please carry on.

Still don't understand their rationale for this as a dig.

"You are such a fine and historic institution that even non-alums are fans" isn't really the demerit they are talking about when the other side of the coin is "the only people that could ever like our team are the people that went there otherwise its not a team worthy of attention."

Appreciated the author's shade for "an in-state opponent ."

I never understood how having people root for Michigan who did not attend Michigan is some kind of insult.

It's the opposite . . . people who did not go to Michigan, and who could root for anybody, root for Michigan because it is so compelling and cool.  That's great.

The only people who care about MSU are the people that went to MSU, and not even all of them.

yeah, i saw an earlier link to this and read it without thinking.

no wordle or crossword puzzle, tho.

Whoops. Didn't know about the strike when I fired up Wordle this morning.

Solidarity, my brothers and sisters!

I’m assuming this also extends to The Athletic then?

you have it totally backwards.   its the blue wall, michigan has its hands on all the right levers, churning out propaganda for the benefit of U of M, hiding tunnel videos, bribing judges, cops, and prosecutors alike.  bwahahaha, you can't stop michigan, you can only hope to contain us!!